Since you asked … (vol. 2)

Here’s my two cents worth – and then some – on questions readers have asked.

It’s a shorter version this week because there haven’t been a lot of Q’s among all the complaints generated by that stinker of an opener in Buffalo – and also because I’m doing a Coffee Talk session from 2-4 p.m. today at the Caffe Ladro in Fremont.

A: He is. The team’s fourth-round draft choice played against the Bills and was credited with four tackles – two solo and two assists. He was paired with Howard Green in the tandem that rotated with starters Craig Terrill and Brandon Mebane.

But Bryant didn’t seem as active, or disruptive, as he had been before missing time following the knee scope to repair damaged cartilage. Some of it was probably that he’s still getting back into the flow of the game. Some of it, I’m sure, was a rookie playing in his first regular-season game.

Coaches talk about the speed of the game changing from the preseason to the regular season and then to postseason. It’s true, and it’s a lesson every rookie has to learn.

I remember seeing Cortez Kennedy slumped in front of his locker after his first game in Chicago in 1990. I asked what the problem was and he said, “Man, I’ve got to get some new technique. Everything I was throwing at these guys they were swatting back at me.”

I think it’s safe to say that Tez learned the lesson and found some better technique.

I don’t want to compare Bryant with Tez, but the future of the defensive tackle position does seem to be the tandem of Bryant and Mebane – two young guys with good size and more quickness than you’d expect.

A: I think I’ve touched on this before, but just because Boldin is unhappy with the Cardinals doesn’t mean the Cardinals are unhappy with Boldin.

They don’t want to trade him. If they did, imagine what the cost would – especially for another team in the NFC West. We’re talking at least a first-round draft choice, and then the money in a new contract to appease Boldin.

The Seahawks made such a trade two years ago, and they’re still waiting for that one to pan out as expected.

Q: Palouse123 is wondering why the Seahawks didn’t leave Deion Branch on PUP when they cut the roster to 53 players.

A: That would have forced Branch to miss the first six games and then he would have been eligible to practice during a two-week window before the club had to decide whether to activate him or put him on IR.

Coach Mike Holmgren did not want to do that, because he expects Branch back sooner.

My question remains, will Branch even be Branch when he does return?

So much of his game is quickness and explosiveness. That’s tough to regain immediately when coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Look at the difference between Bobby Engram in his first season with the Seahawks (29 catches) and his second season (50 catches). Engram had reconstructive knee surgery in 2000 while playing with the Bears and finally admitted – well after the fact – that it took him the entire 2001 season to finally get right again.